[CW] The Original CW Station - SAQ - Christmastime Broadcast

[David J. J. Ring, Jr.]

The last remaining machine transmitter is on air on December 24th, 07:30 
UTC.

Yes, that's 17.2 kHz way down in the Very Low Frequency Spectrum (VLF).

SAQ uses a motor driven alternator!  RCA had alternators all over the world and used them until shortwave showed an ability to provide coverage at less money for equipment with the development of vacuum tube oscillators and power amplifiers in the end of the 1910s.

World-wide stations included:

WII and WRT New Brunswick and Wall, NJ.
WQR and WSO Marion, MA / Chatham, MA
KET         Bolinas, CA / Marshall, CA (?)
WQK and WSS Radio Central, Rocky Point, NY / Riverhead, NY
KGI and KIE Kahuku, Hawaii
WCI and WGG Tuckerton, NJ
MUU and GLC Caenarvon, Wales, UK
SAQ         Grimeton and Varberg, Sweden
AXO and AXL Warsaw, Poland



Here the information from Grimeton Radio SAQ:

On Christmas morning, Friday December 24th 2021, SAQ Grimeton is 
scheduled to be on the air, to send out a Christmas message to the whole 
world, using the 97 year old 200kW Alexanderson alternator on 17.2 kHz 
CW.

Program and transmission schedule:

08:00 CET (07:00 UTC: The transmitter hall at World Heritage Grimeton is opened for visitors.

Transmission & YouTube Live stream
08:25 CET (07:25 UTC): Live stream on YouTube begins.
08:30 CET (07:30 UTC): Startup and tuning of the Alexanderson Alternator SAQ.
09:00 CET (08:00 UTC): Transmission of a message from SAQ.

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Test Transmissions
We are planning to carry our some test transmission on Dec 23rd, approximately between 13:00 CET (12:00 UTC) and 16:00 CET (15:00 UTC). SAQ will be on air shorter periods of time during this interval, when we will be carrying out some tests and measurements. Your comments are welcome to info at alexander.n.se.

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Live Video from World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station
The event can be seen live on our YouTube Channel.

More info: www.alexander.n.se

Thanks to Uli, DL2KHU for this information.

73

DR